Record-manipulating mechanism for phonographs



Jan. 12 1926.

c. H. ZILER RECORD MANIPULATING MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Jan. 26, '1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 12 192 1,569,062

c. H. Z ILER RECORD MANIPULATING MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRKPHS A Fil ed Jan. 26', 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. H. ZILER RECORD MANIPULATING MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Jan. 12 1926.

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 26, 1924 WW T m 1,569,062 c. H. ZILER RECORD MANIPULATING MECHANISM FOR PfiONOGRAPHS Filed Jan. '26, 1924 .4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Maw Jan. 12 1926.

Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

UNITED s'raras. PATENT "OFFICE.

CORBAN H. ZIl ZLEB, OI DETROIT, MlICHIGAH. BECORD-MANIPULATING MECEANISM FOB PHONOGBLIHS.

Application illedianuary 26, 1824. Serial in. 688,692.

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, Cora-m H. ZILER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements'in Record-Manipulating Mechanism for Phonographs, of which the following is a Specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying "drawings.

gazine and automatlc mechanism for intermittently moving the magazine, removing a record'from the magazine and properly positioning it on the phonograph, adjusting the tone arm for a rendition of the record, and after the record is played causing its removal to the magazine. The

mechanism is of such construction and ar-. rangement that records may be successively played as long as the phonograph 1s operated.

My invention further aims to provide a rotary record magazine for a phonograph and from the magazine may be removed records to be-automatically placed in a playing position on the phonograph. After the record has been played it is automatically returned 'to the magazine and the magazine shifted so that another record maybe removed therefrom and used on the phonograph.

My invention is further characterized by a record transferring device that is positive in its action and highly eflicient for'safely manipulating a fragile disk record relative to a rotatable table by which the record is revolved relative to atone arm. The novel construction of the record transferring device precludes any danger of the device interfering withthe proper position of the record on its rotating table and the operation of the transferring device is timed the magazine so. that there will relative to the intermediate movement of alinement of the device and ma the transfer of a record from t graph proper to the magazine.

My invention further includes novel means by which a tone arm and its needle are automatically transferred from a azine for e phono- -finished(position to a record clearance position, an

from such record clearance position to a starting position. The movebe properv ments of the tone arm are in timed relation.

tothe operations of other parts of the phonograph and in attaining these results the-only additional space required is that for the rotary magazine, which is placed atone side of the phonograph and ractically on a level with the top thereof in contradistinction' to the storage compartment ordinarily in the lower part of a phonegraph cabinet. VVithout necessarily discarding a phonograph already in use my record manipulating mechanism may be installed" with a few slight additions or changes 'in the usual operating mechanism of the phonograph. o

My invention will be hereinafter considered under such eaptionsas phonograph and its main operating mechanlsm; rotary record magazine; record transferring device, and tone arm shifting mechanism together with a review of the general operation of the phonograph.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein 1- Figure 1 is a plan of a phonogra h provided with my improvements, rotary magazine partly broken partlyin horizontal section and in position on the phonograph;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same;-

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view' of the phonograph; I

Fig. 4 is a detail view of parts of the mechanism associated with the record trans ferring device, showing one of the universal supports for the device; v

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of another a record universal support for the record transferrin device;

Big. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing va record removed from the phonograph and about showing the away and Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the record transferring device showing in detail the universal support illustrated in Fig. 4.

Phonograph and its main operating mechanism.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 denotes the upper portion of a cabinet or housing which has a horizontal partition 2 dividing the cabinet into an operating compartment 3 and a horn or amplifying compartment 4 (Fig. In the operating compartment 3 is the main operating mechanism of the phonograph, a motor 5 supported by a bracket 6 in which is journaled the drive shaft 7 of the motor. As set forth in the beginning, the motormay be of an electric or spring operated type and if of the latter type there is a winding arbor or shaft 8 protruding from the 00111- partment 3 and having a beveled gear drive 9 between the winding arbor 8 and a spring winding connection 10 which will permit of a spring in the motor being wound up for operating the phonograph a predetermined period of time. If the motor is of the electrical type the usual connections. are provided whereby such motor may be operated from an electric lighting circuit.

The partition 2 and the top wall '11 of the cabinet 1 have vertically alining bear- I ings 12 for a shaft 13 which extends above the needle of a tone arm is in operativerelation to said record it maybe played.

,Rotary record magazine.

Extending outwardly from a side wall of the cabinet 1 is a bracket 20 (Fig. 2) having its outer end provided with a bearing 22' in which is journaled a vertical magazine shaft 23. Fixed to the shaft, at the bearing 22' is a circular platform 24 and mounted on said platform, about the magazine shaft 23 is a. sleeve or annular inner wall 25 which may serve as an abutment for the records (16 which are rolled intothe magazine, on edge.

Mounted on the rotary platform 24 are hollow partition members 26 providing radially disposed stalls or compartments 27 in which the records 16 are placed and the partition members 26 may cooperate with other walls in providing a drum or cylinder-like magazine which will afford an inclosure for records placed in the radially disposed stalls of the magazine.

In the bottom of each of the stalls or compartments 27 is a t-iltable record support 28 on to which a record may be rolled, said support having an inner curved end 29 adapted to limit the inward movement of the record and prevent sudden contact of the edge of the record wit-h the sleeve or inner wall 25 of the magazine. The record supports 28 have the outer ends thereof pivotally mounted between bearings 30 (Fig. 1) provided therefor on the peripheral edge of the platform 24 and said supports have depending ends 31 provided with set screws 32 which are adapted-to be engaged to cause the support 28 to be tilted whereby the record 16 on the actuated support will roll out of its stall or compartment 27.

'On the lower end of the magazine shaft 23 is a horizontally disposed ratchet wheel .33 and normally engaging said ratchet wheel to intermittently rotate the same is a pivoted spring restrained pawl 34 carried by a rod 35 slidable in alianger36, (Fig. 2) carried by the bracket 20. The rod 35 extends through'an opening 37 in the cabinet side wall into the compartment 3 where the inner end of said rod is slidable in a hanger 38, carried by the lower faceof the top wall 11 of the cabinet 1., A .coiled retractile spring 39 connecting the rod 35 and the cabinet 1 retains the rod 35 normally retracted and restores it to such' position for each actuation and intermittent movement of therotary ma azine. The ratchet mechanism is designe sothat the magazinewlll be rotated in a clockwise direction with each movement bringing a stall or compartment 27 of the magazineinto position for automatic removal of a record therefrom. By reference to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the upper surface of'the record support 28 is at a slight inward inclination to the horizontal so that said support will serve somewhat as a cradle for the record 16, and even-though the outer ends of the stalls or compartments 27 are normally open,there is no danger of the records, accidentally rolling out of the stalls. It is obvious that records may be manually removed and others placed in the stalls.

Transversely alining with the hanger 38 in .the operating -compartment 3 are other hangers 40 and 41 and journaled in these hangers is 'a transversely disposed shaft 42 provided with a beveled gear wheel 43 mesh: ing with a horizontally disposed beveled gear wheel 44mounted on a shaft 45, ournaled in a bearing-46, carried by the lower end of thehanger 41. shaft 45 is a; pawl supporting member 47 and loose on the lower end; of said shaft. is 'a horizontal crown ratchet wheel 48 having Fixed to thelower end of the gear wheel 49 provided with a horizontal normally meshing with the horizontal gear wheel 18 (Fig. 3) of the record holder shaft 13, which is adapted to be driven from themotor 5.

-On the pawl supporting member 47 is a pivoted spring pressedawl 50 adapted to engage the ratchet wheel 48 and establish a its hub portion driving relation between the loosely mounted v rotary magazine so charge a record into the magazine.

gear wheel 49 and the shaft 45. When such driving relation is established the shaft 42' is driven and on said shaft is a cam member 51 having one face thereof provided with a cam 52 adapted to engage an adjustable end member 53 (Fig 2.) of the rod and cause said rod to be pushed outwardly whereby movement is imparted to the rotary magazine to shift a record stall out of the road and bring another record stall into position for manipulatiom of the record in the stall. The retractile force of the spring 39 holds the end member 53 of the rod 35 normally against the cam member 51 so that once during each rotation of the cam member 51 the cam 52 thereof will impinge against the end member 53 and actuate the ratchet mechanism of the rotary magazine.

Record transferring device.

Extending transversely of the phonograph, in proximity to what may be considered the rear edge of the record table or holder 14 is a tiltable; rockable and universally supported channel shaped record transferring trough 54 which has one end thereof contiguous to the peripheral edge of the that said trough may receive a record from the magazine and dis- By close inspection of Fig. 6, it will be noted that the trough 54 has its outer end 55 at a ver slight angle to the inner end of the troug and the purpose of this angularity is tohave the inner end of the trough substantially horizontal to receive a record from the magazine andat the outer end of the trough top wall 11 of the cabinet.

- with rotation of the head by rocking the trough 54 provide an incline which will tend to retard the rolling on movement of a record until the record is positioned on the outerend of the trough, as shown in Fig. 6. When the trough is tilted in a vertical plane. the outer end is brought approximately. to the horizontal with the inner end of the trough at an inclination to the horizontal andthis will tend to prevent the record from dentally rolling out of the trough.

The outer end 55 of the trough 54 has a, circular head 56 (Fig. 1) loosely mounted in a slot-57 of a support 58 mounted'on the The head 5 6 is rotatable in .the slot 57 and on said head is a fin 59 extending into a circular opening 60 of the support 58, saidfin. not interfering 56 brought about from a vertical position, shown in Fig.6 to a horizontal position shown n1 Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The fin 59, which is best shown in Figs. 1 and 5, is adapted to enter a Vertical slot 61 in the support 58 when the trough'54 has been rocked to a vertical plane, thereby permitting the head 56 to slot 57 said fin preventing arocking movement of the trough 54, except when the head 56 is in the lower endof the slot 57.

The inner end of the'trough 54 extends through a slot- 62 tatable in a ring 65 rotatably mounted on the top wall 11 'of the cabinet, the head, ring and yoke con-\ stituting a universal support for the inner end of said trough.'. .The ring 64 is slotted,'

. cam member 68 and this cam member is vpositioned so that the screws 32 of the tiltable record rolling in the slide upwardly in the I record supports 28 will impinge against the cam member and cause. a record support in alinement with the trough 54 to be tllted whereby a record on the tilted support will rollout of its stall on to the trough 54.

Attached to the side walls of the trough 54 1s a cage composed of a circular member 69 and a semi-circular member 7 0, said members being disposed in parallel and joined by a connection 71 provided with a periphery 72 which limits the rolling-in movement of a record entering the cage when the cage is in a vertical position as shown in vFig. 6. The members 69.and are comparatively rigid with the circular member 69 of such diameter that it may beswung downwardly over the record table or holder 14, as shown in will not interfere with the swinging movement of a tone arm above the record 16.

To rock the trough 54 and swing the record cage downwardly to deposit a record on the table orholder 14 and to remove the record therefrom after rendition of the same, the front side wall of the trough 54 is provided with a rigid arm 73. Connected to said arm by a conventional form of uni-- joint'74 is: the upper end of a slotted longitudinal slot ,76 I

versal pitman 75 which has a (Fig. 4) providing clearance'for the shaft 42, said pitman extending through a slot 77in thetop wall 11 of thecabinet. On on'e side of 'the pitman 75 is an nti-frictional roller 78" extending into a cam groove (in the'cam member 51 and said cam groove is of such configuration as to governmove ment of. the tiltable and rockable trough 54- when operated by theshaft .42. That portion of the cam groove. designated 84Iserves to lift the pitman 75, this action first rocking the trough 54 to a vertical the pin 59 (Fig. 5) registers with the slot plane where 61 thereby permitting the trough end to be lifted. Continued upward movement ofnew record placed in alinement with the trough 54 to roll out of the magazine on to the trough. As the actuated magazine comes to rest the end 55 of the trough is lowered to incline the trough away from the magazine, and the cam 68 actuates the record support 28, causing the record to roll from the magazine into the trough. Tilting of the trough is accomplished by that portion of the cam groove designated and while the record is rolling along the trough into the cage thereof there is another rest period in the cam groove, designated 81. Following this 'rest period is that portion of the grooi e designated 82 which causes the trough. to be rocked downwardly on an axis provided by the universal supports at the ends of the trough. Rocking the trough 54 swings the cage downwardly and places the record in the cage on the table or holder 14, as shown in Fig. 3. Following the portion 82 of the cam groove is what may be considered a short rest period 83 and it is during this period thatthe tone arm is manipulated,-

partially lowered, as will hereinafter appear. Following the groove portion 83 is another portion designated 84, which causes the'trough to again be rocked upwardly to swing the record oil of the holder 14 to a vertical position when it may roll down the trough into the magazine.

Tone arm shifting mechanism.

Rearwardl of :the table or record holder 14 and on t e top wall 11 of the cabinet is a support 85 (Figs. 2 and '3) for a swingable connection 86 establishing communicatiQn between a pivoted tone arm-87 and a horn or amplifying device 88. The outer end of the tone arm 87 has-the usual diaphragm holder 89- and recordengaging needle 90..

-As the tonearm is carried inwardly towards the center of the, record 16 by itsnatural drift incurred by the needle 90 engaging in ""ing 94 de the spiral groove of the record, the tone arm 1mpi es against an adjustable screw 91 carried y the upper end of a lever 92 extending through an opening 93 in the top wall 11 and pivotallyvconnected to'abearending from the lowerface of l. The lever extends. downwardthe top wa lyan . accomplished is normally held the 46 of the-hanger 41 by the retractile force of a spring 95 connecting said lever to the wall 1.1 of the cabinet. See Figs. 6 and 2.

' The lower end of the lever 92 is angular' and is engaged, at times with the pawl 50 to hold the pawl out of engagement with the crown ratchet wheel 48 and against a stressed spring 96 carried by the pawl supporting member '47. lVhen the lever 92 is actuated by the tone arm 87 it is moved out of the path of the pawl 50, releases said pawl and permits it to engage the crown ratchet wheel 48, thereby establishing a driving relation between the motor 5 and the shaft 45. end of a record is reached and it is obvious that the tone arm must be shifted out of the road in order that the record may be removed from the holder 14 and swung to a vertical position. The mechanism for shifting the tone arm is as follows.

Suitably attached to the tone arm 87 is a curved cam member 97 and adapted to engage the lower face of this cam member is a plunger 98 slidable in a tubular guide 99 carried by the to wall 11 of the cabinet. The lower end of the plunger 98 is loosely connected to a cross head 100 pivotally supported on the lower end of a hanger 101 attached to the top wall 11 of the cabinet, said hanger being cut away or oil-set to revide clearance for a cam 102 mounte on the shaft 42. The can! 102 has a cam surface 103 normally engaged by an anti-frictional roller 104 on the end of the cross head 100. The cam surface 103 affords a .retracted and lowered condition of the plunger 98, otherwise the cam 102 retains the plunger 98 elevated so that the cam member 97 may ride on the upper end of the plunger. Initial elevation of the. plunger 98 causes the tone arm 87 to remove the needle 90 from the record and when so elevated, the tone. arm is ready to be swung to the right or in a counterclockwise direction to provide clearance over the record holder 14. The swinging of the tone arm is by virtue of the rockable record transferring device and the following connection is'established between the outer end of the trough 55 and the tone arm.

Considering Fig. 1,-it will be noted that the rear side wall of'the trough 54 has a versal joint 111 which has its fixed part or bracket ,1-12 attached to the swiveled connection 86 of thetone arm.-' On account of the shortradius between the bracket 112 and theyertitm-lof theconnection 86,

This is accomplished as the the upper end of the plunger 98, The tone arm will be swung to the dot and dash position shown in Fig. 1 where it remains during the removal of the record 16 to the magazine and the loading ofanother record on to the trough and into the cage of said trough. As the trough is rocked from a vertical to a horizontal position it pulls on the rod 107 and shifts the tone arm from the dot. and dash position shown in Fig. l

' to a position at the edge of the record 16,

, relation to th at which time the cam surface 103 of the cam 102 permits the plunger 98 to assume a retracted or lowered position, thus bringing the needle 90 into the outer groove of the record 16. From this position the tone arm is gradually swung inwardly during the rendltion of the record, and such move ment of the tone arm is-permissible because of the pin and slot sleeve connection forming part of the rod 107.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the tiltable. and rockable trough is a very important feature of my invention for the reason that it not only cares, for the loading and unloading of the table or holder 14, but serves as means for swinging the tone arm to an inactive position and then bringing the tone arm to an active position, all of which-is accomplished in timed e operations of other parts of the phonograph. The manipulation of the records is entirely automatic, and as long as power is applied to the phonograph the records in the magazine may be repeatedly played in the order in which they are arranged in the rotary intermittently actuated susceptible to such variations. and modifications as fall within magazine. The record holder 14 is not stopped during the manipulation of a record, as the cage affords" for the record holder. and lease or pick-up thedriven holder. a

It is thought that the operation and utilample freedom an instant reof the record relative to ity of my invention will be apparent without further description, and while in the drawings there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be unv derstood that the structural elements ,are

the scope of the appended claims. I .i

What I claim is:

1, The combination with a 'motor operated phonograph having a driven record holder and an adjustable tone arm, of a record transferring cage rockable and tiltable at the side of said record holder adapted to receive a record on edge and by a tilting movement place the holder and by a the record on said holder, a universal con,- nection between said record transferring cage and said tone arm'so that said tone arm may be adjusted by the rocking movement of said transferring cage, andmeans. insaid phonograph adapted to actuate said record transferring cage in timed relation to the operation of said phonograph.

2. The combination set forth in'claim 1, wherein the connection between said record transferring cage and said' tone arm per' Imits of said cage an inactive position and saidtone arm operating relative to a record while said record transferring cage remains dormant.

The combination with a motor operated phonograph having-a driven record holder arm incident to the playing of a record.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3, wherein said cage is tiltableand adapted to be automatically inclined to receive and deliver a record. v p a 5. The combination set forth in claim 3,

wherein said cage includes a circular record 0 holding member adapted to bev swung to a plane below the upper surface of said record holder to permit of a record in said cage resting on said holder to be driven thereby.

6. The ,combination set forth in claim 3, wherein the means for swinging said cage 1 includes a cam mechanism within said. phonograph actuated in timed relation to" the operation of said phonograph.-

ated phonograph having a driven record holder, and a tone arm, ord magazine adjacent said phonograph,

said magazine comprising a series of stalls, 115

a tiltable record support in each stall, a record transferring device on-said phonograph adapted to actuate the record support in a stall, receive a record, and place it on said record holder and return it to sald maga- 120 zine, and a ratchet mechanism below said' magazine 0 eratable from within said phonograph a apted to impart movement to said record magazine.

" 8. The combination set forth in claim 7, 125

wherein said record transferring device is tlltable to receive and discharge a record and rockable to place a record on said record holder and remove it'therefrom.

9. The combination withrecord at the sideof the rocking movement place shifting said tone arm to a sliding movement during the movement of the tone 7. The combination with a -motor.ope'rof an adjustable reca phonograph 13o having a motor driven record holder, of.f a v rotary intermittently actuated record magmeans actuated in timed relation to said record holder and said trough for intermittently actuatingsaid magazine. I

10. The combination with a motor operated phonograph having a driven record holder, of a rotary intermittently actuated magazine at one side of said phonograph, a ratchet mechanism below said magazine and operated from within said phonograph adapted to rotate said magazine, said'maga zine having stalls supporting records on edge, means on saidphonograph adapted to receive a record and place it onsaid driven record holder and remove the. record therefrom and deliver it to said magazine, and bell crank supports extending into each stall of said magazlne, adapted to be actuated by the first mentioned means and rotation of said magazine to cause a record to be delivered from said magazine.

11. Means for manipulating a record relative toa phonograph-having a record holder I and an adjustable tone arm, said 'means comprising a tiltable and rockable trough adapted to receive a record on edge and lay said record on said holder, means connecting said trough to said tone arm so that said tone arm may be adjusted in timed relation to the manipulation of the record, and

means in said phonograph adapted for tilting and rocking said trough in timed relation to the operation of said phonograph.

In testimony whereof I afiix.my signa- I ture.'

- CORBAN H. ZILER. 

